The Gambia is a tourist paradise and an agricultural hub. Although the country is better known for its groundnuts, it also has a growing vegetable industry that plays an essential role in food security, employment, and economic development. Onions, tomatoes, cabbage, and okra are the most commonly grown vegetables that feed the local population and are traded across borders. The article describes the Gambia’s vegetable sector,  its challenges, and upcoming opportunities.

Onions, tomatoes, cabbage, and okra are the primary vegetables produced in The Gambia. These are key to the local economy and food security.

Solutions to improve the vegetable industry include cold chain systems, better storage technologies, and modern farming techniques.

Opportunities exist for the vegetable sector’s future, including investment in agro-processing, irrigation schemes, and market linkages.

Onions—The Gambia is one of the country’s most significant primary vegetable fields, producing approximately 20,000 metric tons of onions annually. The country’s sandy-loamy soils and geological climate conditions make growing onions favourable. Smallholder farmers in the Central River Region (CRR) and North Bank Region (NBR) widely cultivate onions. So, onions grow best during the dry season in irrigated land bordering the rivers.

Onions are a household necessity in The Gambia and a critical ingredient for making dishes such as Domoda (Peanut Stew) and Benching (Jollof rice). Since then, onion exports from the Gambia to neighbouring Senegal and Guinea-Bissau countries have increased. However, local production does not always demand filling out, which creates seasonal imports from neighbouring markets.

Tomatoes- The other most crucial vegetable in the Gambia is the tomato, which is extensively grown in the Western and Lower River Regions. Tomatoes are a high-value cash crop, and their production tremendously increases farmers’ incomes in the region. The Gambia currently produces around 8,000 metric tons of tomatoes. 

Gambia’s tomato demand will grow by 2.4% in 2026. In 2018, the country exported $7.06k worth of tomatoes, with Morocco being the primary export destination. Fresh tomatoes are delivered to urban markets, and SMEs can process excess yields into tomato paste or essential tomato products.

Tomatoes have a high perishability status, making post-harvest losses the most significant challenge. Despite these challenges, interventions such as drying with solar energy and storage facilities have started to respond to these issues. Tomatoes are essential in Gambian dishes and widely used in soups, stews, and other sauces.

Cabbage- Cabbage is mainly cultivated in the peri-urban environment of Banjul and other large cities. The off-season has a lot more shut up for the farmers. It grows quickly, and they can soon develop it in the cold. Cabbage cultivation is especially advantageous for women farmers, who comprise most of the vegetable farming subsector. This particular vegetable is not only an item of local consumption but also dispatched to hotels, restaurants, and markets serving tourists.

While cabbage farming is labour-intensive, it guarantees farmers’ income. The increasing urbanisation and population will continue to demand fresh vegetables, including cabbage, leading to increased production and further agribusiness developments.

Okra- The Gambia is home to a native vegetable called “kanji,” more popularly known as okra. It can survive drought and grow in poor soil, making it a safe crop for farmers during climate variability. One of the must-haves in the Gambian diet, okra is also a base ingredient in stew and soup, not to mention its role as a thickening ingredient in almost all traditional foods.

Okra is produced in the Gambia not only for subsistence but also for some export. Farmers grow it as cash crops, focusing on local and export markets. Due to its strong hardiness and low input needs, it is a high-value crop for smallholder farmers.

Suitable environment: The Gambia’s moderate climate and fertile alluvial soils provide the best conditions for vegetable growing. The nearby River Gambia also provides water for irrigation, sustaining vegetable growth throughout the year. This natural resource endowment makes the Gambia a potential horticultural hub in West Africa.

Growing Domestic Demand: The demand for fresh vegetables is rising, with a local population of more than 2 million individuals. The demand for locally grown vegetables is driven by rapid urbanisation, expansion of the middle class and rise in health awareness. Besides, the tourism industry fuelled the consumption of vegetables from local farmers as hotels and resorts buy fresh vegetables from them.

Economic Diversification: The Gambia’s economy is primarily based on agriculture, so the vegetable sector could be an opportunity to diversify it. Launching this programme aims to lessen dependency on the import of vegetables. This will also enhance food security and employment opportunities, especially for women and youth, by promoting vegetable farming.

• Post-Harvest Losses- Post-harvest losses are among the most critical issues facing the Gambia’s vegetable industry. Vegetables have a short shelf life, and the lack of appropriate storage conditions, underdeveloped transportation networks, and unavailability of cold chain systems lead to the loss of a significant proportion of produce. As many as 30% of the vegetables that arrive on the market are lost before that time.
• Constraints on the availability of inputs and technology -Farmers in the smallholder segment rarely have access to quality seeds, the right fertilisers and modern farming equipment. As a result, this hampers productivity and affects the ability of Gambian vegetables to compete regionally. Crop yields are also affected by a lack of knowledge about modern farming solutions and pest management.
• Climate Change—An increasing number of droughts, irregular rainfall, and higher temperatures affect sustainable farming in the Gambia. Climate change jeopardises crop growth cycles, leading to lower yields and pest infestation. Farmers have adopted climate-smart agriculture practices at a relatively slow pace for over a decade, although this is insufficient to overcome these problems.

Though this industry has many challenging phases, investors with innovative ideas have a high chance of solving these problems and ensuring a profitable business. Many inspiring stories are there, and investors can learn to run a profitable business in this sector.

 Yusupha Jarju, a 32-year-old horticulturist, abandoned highly populated Sukuta in 2016 for the rural terrain of Badibu Saba in the North Bank Region of The Gambia. After seeing his friend earn significant income by growing cucumbers, he switched to growing different crops. While water scarcity, fencing and limited land might challenge farmers, Yusupha’s passion and commitment do the trick for him as he manoeuvres through the volatile market. From among some 100 beds of cucumbers, he anticipates a profit of close to D100,000.

For Yusupha, cucumber production is a world apart, and the market can swing from high profits to steeper losses. Even when he gets knocked down, his comeback is always stronger than his setback, and he never backs down until he hits that success.

• Cold Chain Systems: Setting up cold storage houses and refrigerated transportation will help decrease spoilage by a large margin. Partnerships between the state and the private sector may be the key to access and affordability for these systems.
• Better Storage Technologies: Simple storage techniques such as solar-powered cooling or better packaging can enable farmers to keep produce fresh for longer.
• Post-Harvest Management Training: Training farmers to avoid waste will go a long way toward minimising waste caused by handling and storing crops after harvest.
• Access to Quality Inputs: Investors or local distribution networks can also give smallholders access to quality seeds, fertilisers, and equipment. This could be government subsidies or even micro-loans for inputs.
• Training in Modern Farming Techniques: By giving farmers training in modern farming techniques, pest control and crop rotation through extension services or digital platforms, yields and quality can be enhanced. 
• Other: Rainwater harvesting systems, drip irrigation, and water-efficient practices might address summer’s erratic rainfall and dry spells.

Investment in Agro-Processing– Agro-processors have long told the government that investing in agro-processing facilities for vegetables can lead to less post-harvest losses and more value added to raw produce. Vegetable value-added processing – e.g. tomato paste, dried onions, and cabbage slaw – can also benefit both to have new open markets and lead to higher incomes for farmers.

Development of Irrigation Scheme– Enhancing irrigation infrastructure development lessens vegetable production shortages, particularly in dry seasons. Investment in small, season-neutral schemes and water-saving technologies will increase productivity and supply reliability throughout the year.

Strengthening Market Linkages—Better buyer access could help farmers earn more money from vegetable production. Cooperatives, farmers’ associations, and market information systems would enable farmers to negotiate better prices and access more lucrative markets.

Government and NGO Support– The Gambian government and international and non-governmental organisations are also quickly focusing on supporting the vegetable sector through capacity-building programs, financial assistance, and input supply initiatives. Collaboration between stakeholders can fuel sustainable growth in the industry.

The vegetable industry in Gambia has the potential for adequate economic growth, food security, and poverty alleviation. With the proper measures to address the challenges and the natural resources that nature bestows upon the country, the vegetable sector can become a thriving and robust sector. With the growing demand for fresh and healthy produce, vegetables like onions, tomatoes, cabbage, and okra will remain an essential part of the agricultural landscape in this West African country.

1. What are the top vegetables grown in The Gambia? 

Answer: Onions, tomatoes, cabbage and okra, which are crucial for food security and the economy, are grown in the Gambia. Onions and tomatoes are the most important vegetables for local consumption and exports.

2. What are the major problems of the vegetable sector in The Gambia? 

Answer: The primary key challenges are losses during post-harvest due to poor storage and transport methods and restricted-quality inputs like seeds, fertilisers, etc. , which decrease productivity. Additionally, the effects of climate change cause erratic rainfall and drought, leading to reduced yields of staple crops.

3. How are these challenges being rectified? 

Answer: With the proper solutions, situations can be changed. Cold chain systems allow for better storage and transportation. More advanced storage technologies: Solar-powered refrigeration. Post-harvest management training for farmers, modern farming, and pest control. Access to quality farm inputs and better farming tools via subsidies or micro-loans

4. In what way does vegetable cultivation impact climate change? 

Answer: Climate change’s erratic rainfall and severe drought adversely impact food crops. However, climate-smart practices like rainwater harvesting and drip irrigation are being promoted to boost resilience.

5. What are the growth opportunities within the vegetable sector? 

Answer: Opportunities include agro-processing (reducing losses and adding value, e.g., tomato paste and dried onions). Irrigation infrastructure enables direct sowing around the year. Market linkages to improve access to higher prices for farmers and farmers. End support from government and NGO recipients via funding support and capability-building initiatives.

6. How do smallholder farmers overcome these hurdles? 

Answer: The Gambian vegetable industry will thrive as more smallholder farmers adopt modern techniques, access better-quality inputs, and are trained in different vegetable crops’ agronomic and nutritional value. This will enable better-quality produce, resolve their markets, and grow incomes and wages.